Key: + = from 15m handicap,  * = Tactical substitute for double points.
SHEFFIELD SPEEDWAY MATCH REPORTS 2017
SHEFFIELD WINDOW CENTRE 'Tigers' v Redcar 'Bears' select SGBC 23rd Oct.

Referee: Phil Griffin

010203040506070809101112131415Tot+Bp
1. Scott Nichols (g) (9.54) 2 3 3 1 9
2. Todd Kurtz © 5.39 1' - - - 1+1
3. Josh Bates 6.55 0 1 1 3 3 8
4. Ty Proctor (g) 8.42 3 3 2 3 11
5. Kyle Howarth r/r 8.62 - - - (8)
6. Jan Graversen 5.10 3 0 2 3 2' 10+1
7. Georgie Wood 2.00 ef 0 0 x2 0 0
Simon Stead 3 3 3 3 4 3 2 2 4 4 5 3
Sheffield 'Tigers' 3 6 9 12 16 19 21 23 27 31 36 39
Redcar 'Bears' 3 6 9 12 14 17 21 25 27 29 30 33
Jitendra Duffill 3 3 3 3 2 4 4 2 2 3 1 3
1. Paul Starke (g) 8.15 3 2 3 1 9
2. David Wallinger (g) 2.00 f 0 - ef 0
3. Charles Wright r/r 7.47 1 3 0 2' 6+1
4. Jonas B. Andersen 6.55 1' 1 2 2 6+1
5. Josh Auty (g) 7.32 2 2 2 0 6
6. Simon Lambert (g) 4.66 1' 2 1' 1 1' 6+3
7. James Sargeant (g) 4.24 2 1' 3 0 6+1
Track record: 59.1
Ricky Ashworth, 14 Oct '10 		0102030405 0607080910 1112131415
awd 63.56 64.69 63.88 64.13 64.94 64.56 64.26 64.75 64.38 64.43 65.00

Programme cover... The final league fixture of the 2017 season brought the 'Bears' to Owlerton with just one of their own riders, an assortment of guests and rider replacement for Charles Wright who was involved in the horrific crash with Kyle in the final of the Championship Best Pairs just over a week ago. When the ambulance eventually arrived the meeting started over one hour late.

The 'Bears select' kept the scores level by sharing all of the first four heats. Josh Auty tried to elbow Scott Nichols out of his way into turn 1 in heat 4 but the way Scott just shrugged him off was mightily impressive. Our guest Ty Proctor won heat 5 ahead of a titanic battle between Josh Bates and Paul Starke which culminated in Paul bailing out after the chequered flag when his throttle stuck open leaving his bike somersaulting down the track at top speed. Paul emerged from the fence thankfully unscathed, but the Tigers had broken the deadlock.

Our other guest Scott Nichols won heat 6 but Todd had to withdraw as his broken wrist was causing him too much pain. Paul won heat 7 from Ty and Jonas B. Andersen, and James Sargeant outpaced Jan Graversen and Simon Lambert after Georgie ran out of time at the start of heat 8 putting the 'Bears' ahead. Ty won heat 9 but Josh Auty took Josh Bates very wide on the first turn and Josh never made up the lost ground although his third place brought the scores level once more.

Jan made a good start and first bend to lead heat 10 from Jonas and Scott rounded Josh Auty out of turn two to move into third place. Josh tried every which way but Scott had his measure. Heat 11 saw David Wallinger retire from the back of the field on the second lap but all attention was on the terrific scrap for the lead between Josh Bates and Paul. Paul gambled all on a pits bend swoop which merely allowed Jan to expertly switch back and steal second place on the run to the line! Josh trapped and won heat 12 with Georgie's spare bike going the same way as his first and he's left with no working bikes ahead of his forthcoming cup final with Eastbourne at Mildenhall.

Thanks to the late arrival of the ambulance, five delays for riders with consecutive heats and two air fence rebuilds we now had passed the curfew and the referee had no option other than abandoning the match. Even worse was that the fireworks were also ruled out so the meeting and such a successful season finished exactly like a damp squib.

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